Chez Fifi

"In a bilevel townhouse on the Upper East Side, Chez Fifi is a French restaurant from two of the brothers behind nearby Sushi Noz. It’s named after their mother and will serve Parisian food, but also some Basque dishes, like txangurro—spider crab baked and served in its own shell. Chez Fifi releases reservations at midnight, three weeks in advance. Later reservations are occasionally available at shorter notice. Alternatively you can walk in to the bar upstairs for snacks and dessert, or email reservations@chezfifinyc.com to reserve a group dinner for around six people in a cozy, curtained-off private room." - will hartman, bryan kim

"This uptown team behind Michelin-starred Sushi Noz and Noz 17 opened the luxe Chez Fifi, led by chef Zack Zeidman, an Estela alum. It’s expensive but good out of the gate, pulling in a youngish crowd (for uptown) in the two-story townhouse. It’s named for the late mother of the owners, Joshua and David Foulquier, Firouzeh (who went by Fifi). Beware though, this is for splurges: Their chicken with foie gras jus, French fries, and a green salad is $160 for groups. Basque deviled crab eaten right out of the shell, or the Dover sole a la plancha are also recommended orders from Eater staff. Upstairs, it’s an arty cocktail bar that features works by Calder and Miró." - Emma Orlow

"Verdict: A true neighborhood bistro. Unfortunately, the neighborhood in question is a region of the Upper East Side where townhouses start in the tens of millions. Chez Fifi, from the owners of Sushi Noz, serves steak frites, frog legs, and roast chicken in a stunning little wood-paneled box of a space. It's a perfectly nice and elegant experience, and it costs a wild amount of money: about $150 for the chicken, for example. Chez Fifi releases reservations at midnight, three weeks in advance. Later reservations are occasionally available at shorter notice. Alternatively you can walk in to the bar upstairs for snacks and dessert, or email reservations@chezfifinyc.com to reserve a group dinner for around six people in a cozy, curtained-off private room." - bryan kim

"Chez Fifi from Joshua and David Foulquier is a destination-worthy French restaurant on the Upper East Side. The food, which comes from executive chef Zack Zeidman, who worked with Ignacio Mattos, pulls influences from France and the Spanish Basque region, with dishes like deviled crab or the bluefin toro that suggests Zeidman has spent time working with Noz chef Nozomu Abe. For mains, there’s a poulet rôti, which features a half or whole chicken with foie gras jus, amazing fries, and a nicely dressed simple green salad. The Dover sole a la plancha (cooked like their grandmother made it, a simple chicken stock, capers, and brown butter sauce) is also glorious, but at $160 for a fish, it’s a commitment. Ask a server to guide wine selections, as there are some unusual offerings from Spain and Southwest France. And you don’t need to have dinner to stop by the 30-seat salon upstairs, a chill cocktail bar for a nightcap that includes Calder and Miro works on display." - Melissa McCart

"A polished Upper East Side restaurant offering Basque and French cuisine in an elegant townhouse setting, ideal for special occasions or date nights." - Melissa McCart